Government may be lacking in IT security training

Information is the lifeblood of a wide range of businesses, and the government is no exception. Especially in these sectors, security is critical: employees need to be fully able to make sure that sensitive data is only seen by those with proper clearance.

However, we might not be providing adequate IT training entrusted to that task.

A recent article in Information Week described the nature of the problem. In it, author W. Hord Tipton describes how training and educational opportunities for IT professionals are at an all-time low, which has left them in danger of falling behind in critical areas. Industry professionals report a lack of growth for both new employees and seasoned veterans of the field.

While online training might be path of the future, it still has a ways to go as primary option. While internet-based courses have served as an interim stopgap during lean budget years, the advantage of person-to-person contact is hard to overstate.

"Anyone who has attended the RSA Conference, Blackhat or the (ISC)² Security Congress knows that the element of human interaction greatly enhances one's educational experience. There is something very powerful about being in a room of peers who are grappling with the same challenges and who are provided the forum to exchange ideas and successes," Tipton writes.

Even if it deals with less information than the government, it's important that your company doesn't fall behind. Your business is valuable, and should be protected. Software engineer insurance can help you make sure that all of your data is covered in the event of an emergency.